Category: Gospels
Compassion empowers ministry!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Mark 1
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:40-42 “A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy was cured.”
Leprosy is a disease of the skin that causes the skin to crust with sores and ooze body fluids. It was contagious and people with the disease had to separate themselves to keep from infecting others. Any Israelite who touched a leper would be considered “unclean.”
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was humbly approached by a man with leprosy. This man fell to his knees and begged the Master to be willing to heal him. Mark records that Jesus was filled with compassion for this hurting man who was suffering from the disease and its lonely consequences. Compassion is love that deeply touches the heart and moves a person to take action to minister to the one that is hurting. You might call it love on steroids! Jesus reached out His hand, and touched the man. He told him that it was His will to heal and at Jesus’ command, the leprosy left immediately!
Observation for over-comers: As believers, through empowerment by the Holy Spirit, we have a river of Christ’s love and compassion flowing in our hearts. God is willing and we have authority and compassion waiting to be released for hurting people! “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, . . ..” (Proverbs 15:4)
Therefore, Go!
Scripture reading for February 9th: Matthew 28
Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus gave simple and clear instructions to those who had trusted in Him. He declared that all authority had been given to Him, in heaven and on earth! Because of this authority and the Father’s heart of love behind it, His followers were sent into all the world to every people group in every land. Their mission was to make disciples, not just get converts! They were to baptize them and teach them obedience to Jesus’ commands. It wasn’t difficult or hard to understand or especially hard to do. It did require faith and an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus during the process. Jesus promised His presence with them at all times.
Observations for over-comers: Humble disciples of Jesus recognize His authority and heart to reach the lost of all nations and make disciples. Go! “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)
Resurrection power in the Gospel!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Matthew 27
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 27:50-53 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
Jesus was not murdered by Roman soldiers, He willingly gave up His spirit to the Father after suffering for the sins of all mankind. When His own obedience to the Father was complete, Jesus was released from His suffering and shame. This event was so powerful that the first event recorded by Matthew was the tearing of the thick veil on the temple. This was significant to Jews, because that veil had covered the Holy of Holies so that only the High Priest could enter, once a year for the sins of the people. Now the final sacrifice was completed, a better sacrifice that would satisfy God’s justice forever!
An earthquake also occurred which split rocks and opened some tombs of holy men and women of the past. This earthquake shook the realm of the dead to the core! Death could no longer hold those who by faith had looked to God for His salvation!
Observations for over-comers: Never forget the power of the Gospel message and the story of Jesus’ suffering and death for our sins! It has power to raise the dead and cause spiritual earthquakes that open the way to intimacy with God! “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; . .” (Job 19:25-26)
Watch and pray!
Scripture reading for February 5th: Matthew 26
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 26:39-41 “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Then He turned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Jesus was in the most intense battle of His time on earth. He knew Satan’s temptation to disobey His Father’s will and the real human weaknesses of his own fleshly body. Jesus prayed with deep intensity to His Father for relief from the temptation and for strength to simply do His will. This would involve taking on Himself the sins of the world and suffering separation from His Father in a time of deep darkness.
He had simply asked His disciples (minus Judas) to watch and pray with Him for an hour. After wrestling for a time in prayer, He returned and found the disciples sleeping! What a disappointment this must have been! These were His friends and Jesus understood the temptations that were also coming their way in the very near future. Their only hope to avoid entering into these temptations would be with God’s help through watchful prayer! Sleep was not the right approach in this time of temptation!
Observations for over-comers: In these terrible times of the last days, it is more necessary than ever to be watching and praying for physical and spiritual strength against the devil’s temptations! “I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My Lover is knocking: “Open to Me, My sister, My darling, My dove, My flawless one: My head is drenched with dew, My hair with the dampness of the night.”” (Song of Songs 5:2)
The kingdom awaits the ‘sheep’!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 25
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 25:31-34 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’
As Jesus finished His last instruction to His disciples before the cross, He told them the parable of the sheep and the goats. This parable described a judgment of the nations of the world and all it’s peoples. The people were separated from one another as sheep are separated from the goats. The sheep were to be placed at Christ’s right hand and were to be rewarded with blessing by God the Father with the kingdom prepared for them from before the world was made! This is an amazing reward for lowly ‘sheep’!
However, Jesus also placed the goats on His left and they will be rewarded too! “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) All nations will have had the opportunity for salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now they face judgment at the King’s throne and eternal punishment for their rejection of His grace. This place of punishment was not meant for any made in God’s image, but only for the devil and his fallen angels. (Revelation 20:10)
Observations for over-comers: Followers of Jesus from every nation will be rewarded and given authority in Christ’s eternal kingdom! Those refusing will suffer eternal punishment! “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 2:12)
Maintaining watchfulness!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Matthew 24
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
Fathers and husbands are expected to be protectors of their homes and families. Prudence in protecting in our day is to have security cameras and alarms installed on or around the doors and windows. Some even have cell phones connected that dial their number when suspicious activity is detected from their home. Jesus also was concerned about protection of the precious souls of men and women! He encouraged a watchfulness from each person over their own souls against the intrusions of the ‘thief’, who would come to ‘kill, steal, and destroy.’ (John 10:10)
Jesus also likened His own second coming to that of the ‘thief’, who came at an unexpected hour! Only those who were ready and watching would receive Jesus as He returned. Some of those expecting to be part of Christ’s kingdom would not be ready and would be left out, having missed the window of opportunity. This happened to those warned of the flood in Noah’s time and would again at Christ’s return. (Matthew 24:37-39) This would be the ultimate eternal loss!
Observations for over-comers: It pays to be watchful! No one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return so true believers choose to stay in readiness! “Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach Him.” (Psalm 32:6)
Stay open to Christ’s compassion!
Scripture reading for February 2nd: Matthew 23
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 23:37-38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.'”
Over the ages of time, the Bible records many times where God tried to warn and protect His people from coming disaster and judgment. Many times they were stubborn and unwilling to listen, wanting to go their own way. They sometimes killed or mistreated the messengers that God sent to them. In New Testament times, they would kill the Son of God, Jesus Christ and similarly mistreat His disciples.
Over-comers must always welcome Jesus’ direction and protection. They must welcome the messengers of God and be a willing bearer of the good news themselves! They must walk in awareness that not all will receive the good news and that persecution may come.
Observations for over-comers: Jesus longs to gather and protect His people! He would rather show mercy than judge! “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:7-8)
Dress for success!
Scripture reading for February 1st: Matthew 22
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 22:11-14 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.””
Towards the very end of His earthly ministry, Jesus told this parable about a wedding for the king’s son and a guest who came without a proper wedding garment. The man was confronted by the king, and he was without excuse and speechless. The king had him thrown outside, bound hand and foot. Jesus concluded the parable with “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
This parable speaks to us today about our need to respond properly to the invitation to the wedding feast of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ! We need to accept the wedding garment of His righteousness to be properly clothed and say ‘yes’ to the King’s invitation through His ambassadors, the ‘Church!’ Those who come thinking they are good just as they are will be in for a rude surprise! The only ‘clothes’ come by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! (Ephesians 2:8-9) All are invited to this wedding banquet, but few will chose to come properly dressed!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers will wear garments of Christ’s righteousness and be watching for the Bridegroom’s return! Some will be surprised and left out! “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) “I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will ever sing for joy.” (Psalm 132:16)
Faith and prayer move mountains!
Scripture reading for January 29th: Matthew 21
Key scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 21:20-22 “When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “God, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.””
Jesus had cursed a fig tree that had no fruit and the next day the disciples marveled that it was dead from the roots. They asked Jesus how this could happen. He gave them a simple but profound answer that would enable them to live as over-comers in their calling as disciples and apostles. Having faith in God and His ability to do what He is showing you is the key to receiving answers to prayer. Jesus told them that they could not only curse a fig tree but speak to a mountain and see it moved! God would honor their faith and their asking Him for the ability and results that they needed for their ministry.
Observations for over-comers: Without faith we cannot please God! When we ask Him in faith for our needs, we honor God and He delivers! “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8) “and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:15)
Beware of worldly ambition and pride!
Scripture reading for January 28th: Matthew 20
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 20:25-28 “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Some of the first disciples had a desire for a position of glory in Christ’s kingdom. They were thinking in worldly terms that position means power. They wanted to be in charge and have control. However, Jesus explained that greatness had a real cost–drinking from the cup that He would drink from! This cup meant enduring suffering and eventual death for God’s purposes to be fulfilled.
Those who aspired to greatness were not condemned but admonished concerning the cost! Jesus set an example for His followers then and now. He was a servant-leader who set an example of serving. He ultimately laid down His life for His own followers that they might have what they needed for eternal life. Followers must also have a servant’s heart and be willing to sacrifice even their own lives for the cause of the kingdom of heaven. The proud in heart will never be exalted!
Observation for over-comers: It is not wrong to strive to be great in God’s kingdom but we must also count the cost and be wary of pride! Jesus is our example of real greatness–He alone sits on the throne of God! “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.” (Proverbs 25:6-7)